Munster Rugby edge past Cardiff in URC at Thomond Park

MUNSTER Rugby made it four wins on the bounce in the United Rugby Championship with a hard fought 20-15 victory over a gritty Cardiff Blues side in front of an official attendance of 15,423 at Thomond Park on Saturday night.

Player of the Match Jack Crowley scored a crucial second-half try and kicked the clinching 74th-minute penalty in Munster's victory.

The win sees Munster in fourth place in the table in their battle to secure home advantage in the quarter-final play-offs.

It was a welcome success for Munster in their final outing before the province's mammoth Investec Champions Cup last 16 clash away to the Northampton Saints at Franklin's Gardens on Sunday, April 7, 12.30pm.

It was also a first win for Munster in four attempts at Thomond Park this season, following their draw with Bayonne in the Investec Champions Cup and defeats to Leinster in the URC and next weekend's opponents Northampton in the group stages of this season's Champions Cup.

Cardiff have now failed to win on 11 visits to Limerick in all competitions, but have beaten Munster four times on their own soil in the URC with all matches played in Cork.

Ben Thomas and replacement Thomas Young both crossed to give Cardiff a 12-10 lead on the hour mark but they could not avoid a fifth straight league loss.

A lone Crowley penalty had Munster leading 3-0 at half-time, with the hosts frustrated by nine handling errors across the opening 35 minutes.

Munster captain Tadhg Beirne and Thomas swapped tries, with the latter running in a fine intercept effort, before Young profited from John Ryan's sin-binning to score from a maul.

The hugely influential Crowley scrambled over and finished with 15 points, albeit replacement Jacob Beetham's late penalty gave Cardiff a deserved bonus point.

More to follow:- 

MUNSTER RUGBY: Mike Haley, Seán O'Brien, Antoine Frisch, Alex Nankivell, Shane Daly, Jack Crowley, Craig Casey, Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer, Tom Ahern, Tadhg Beirne (Capt), Peter O'Mahony, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes. Replacements used: Eoghan Clarke, Josh Wycherley, John Ryan, Jack Daly, Alex Kendellen, Ethan Coughlan, Joey Carbery, Simon Zebo.

CARDIFF RUGBY: Cam Winnett, Owen Lane, Mason Grady, Ben Thomas, Josh Adams, Tinus de Beer, Ellis Bevan, Corey Domachowski, Liam Belcher (Capt), Keiron Assiratti, Ben Donnell, Seb Davies, Alex Mann, Ellis Jenkins, Mackenzie Martin. Replacements used: Rhys Carré, Evan Lloyd, Will Davies-King, Rory Thornton, Thomas Young, Matthew Aubrey, Jacob Beetham, Theo Cabango.

REFEREE: Andrea Piardi (Italy)